Automatic safety platform mechanism.



F. HEDLEY & J. S. DOYLE. AUTOMATIC SAFETY PLATFORM MECHANISM. APPLICAITQN FILED OCT. 14. 1914.

W i M 1. Q. I N

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,WASHINGTUN. [L c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK HEDLEY, OF YONKERS, AND JAMES S. DOYLE, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC SAFETY PLATFORM MECHANISM.

- have made a certain new and useful Invention in Automatic Safety Platform Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to safety platform mechanism, and particularly to means for automatically controlling the movements of portions of the platform to fill the gaps between cars and the proximate edge of a station or landing platform.

The object of the invention is to provide means which are simple and eflicient for effecting the desired movements of the platform sections only when the cars are in a definite predetermined position with refer ence to the section of platform to be moved.

A further object is to provide means for effecting automatically the movements of the platform sections.

A further object is to provide a system of "the character and nature, and for the purpose referred to, wherein the desired movements of the platform are effected automatically only when the car comes to rest at the predetermined position opposite the movable gap filling section of the platform.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawing, and finally pointed outin the appended claims.

In the single view of the drawing we have shown in diagram an arrangement embodying the principles of our invention.

In our application for patent executed of even date herewith Serial No. 866,607 we have shown, described and claimed a system of movable platform sections for filling in thegap between the edge of a station or landing'platform and the side of a car or cars standing-opposite the same, and in said application we have shown various constructions and arrangements for accomplishing vthe purposes set forth. But the control of the movements of the platform sections, in the arrangements therein set fort is d p nd nt upon the manipulation Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 14, 1914.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

Serial No. 866,606.

of a switch or other form of controller on the station or landing platform.

The present invention relates to a system of the nature set forth in said application and it is among the special purposes of the present invention to provide means for rendering the operation of the movable portlons of the platform wholly automatic and not dependent upon the manipulation of a platform or landing controller.

In carrying out our present invention we propose to utilize devices on the car which are rendered effective only when the car is at rest for controlling the movement of the cooperating movable or gap filling portion of the platform.

In the drawing 1 designates a car; 2 the track rails on which the car operates; 3 the third rail or conductor from which the car propelling motor is supplied with current; 4; the edge of a station landing orplatform; 5 a movable portion at the edge of the platform for filling the gap between the plat form edge and the side of the car; 6 the controlling device which controls the movement of the platform section 5 toward the side of the car; 7 the controlling device which controls the movement of the platform section 5, into withdrawn or retracted position; 8 and 9 are switches which are controlled, respectively by the advancing and retracting movements of the platform section for controlling the device 7; 10 and 11 are relay switches; 12 is a switch device on the car which is effective only when the car stops; 13 are contact strips on the sides of the car; 14 a movable contact to cooperate with the proximate strip 13 on the car; 15 a motor device for normally maintaining the contact 14. withdrawn; 16 a device for controlling the operation of motor 15 to advance contact 14 into electric connection with the strip 13; 17 a contact member to which circuit is completed from the third rail 3 or other source, through a shoe 18,0arried by the car, only when the car arrives opposite wire 20, through contacts 21, to the point 22, where the current divides, one branch continuing through wire 23, the coils of relay 10, wire 2st, contacts 25, to ground at 26. The other branch continues from point 22, through wire 27, the coils of device 16 which controls the motor 15 to advance contact 1-1 into position to contact with strip 13 on the car when the latter arrives opposite said contact. From the coils of device 16, said branch continues through wire 28, and contacts 25 to ground. These branch circuits are closed only temporarily While the car is traveling past the contact member 19 in approaching the station. The closing of the circuit through the coils of relay 10, causes the circuits above traced to be broken at contacts 21, but the same action causes contacts 29, 30, to be closed, said contacts being also controlled by the relay switch 10. The closing of contacts 29, establishes two branch circuits from a source indicated at 31, through wire 32 and cont-acts 29, one of said branches continuing through wire 23, the coils of relay 10 and to ground at 26, as before, and the other through point 22,wire 27, device 16, and on to ground at 26, as before. Consequently the coils of relay 10 remain energized after the car has passed on toward the platform and beyond the contact member 19. At the same time the movable contact 14 has been projected by its operating motor 15 and remains in its projected position. When the car arrives in position as predetermined by the location of the contact member 17 and with the strip 13, in contact with movable contact 14:, circuit connections are established as follows: from conductor 3, through the shoe 18, and member 17 wire 33, resistance 34:, the coils of relay 11, wire 35, contact 145, strip 13, wire 36, to contacts 37, one of which is grounded. These contacts 37 are closed by the device 12, on the car which is rendered effective only when the car is at rest. We have found that a device 12, which is operated by counter-electro-motive force from the car propelling motor 38, is effective for the purpose, so that, as long as the pro pelling motor is in operation the contacts 37, remain open, but as soon as the motor stops and ceases to generate counter-electromotive force, the device 12, becomes effective to close contacts 37 thereby completing the circuit last above traced to ground, and consequently energizing the coils of relay 11. Thus it will be seen that two things must concur before the relay 11 is energized. First the car must be opposite the member 17, and contact 14, second, it must be at rest. The energization of coil 11, causes contacts 39 to close thereby closing a circuit from member 17, through wire 33, contacts 39, wire 40, resistance 41, wire 42, contacts 30, which were closed by the energization of the coils of relay 10, as above described, thence through wire 13, the control device 6 and wire 11, to an insulated track rail section 45. This circuit is completed to ground, therefore only when a truck wheel of the car is resting on the track rail section 45.

The completion of this circuit causes the device 6 to start the motor (not shown) into operation for advancing the platform section 5 against the side of the car. It will be understood of course that if only one car is being operated it must be in position not only for the shoe 18, and strip 13, thereon to contact, respectively with member 17, and contact 14, as well as at rest so that contacts 37 are closed, but also in position for one of its truck wheels to rest on the insulated track rail section 45, before the movable platform section is actuated to its advanced position against the side of the car to fill the gap between the side of the car and the platform. If, however, a train of cars is to be operated with the system, then the front car of the train only, must be in position as predetermined by the member 17 and contact 11, as above explained and, also with reference to an insulated track rail section i5 corresponding with one movable portion of the platform, while each succeed- 1 ing car of the train will control a movable platform section lying opposite to it by grounding a circuit 16, through the control device 6, of its own platform section operating motor, and its own track rail section 45, there being as many of such devices 6 and sections 4.5, as there are cars to be operated, the circuits thereof being in multiple, and consequently each car, or the position it occupies with reference to its 00- operating movable portion or section of the platform. Therefore when we specify a car we wish also to include thereby a train of cars.

The circuit of the platform section retracting motor controller 7, includes the source at 31, wire 32, wire 47, contacts 48, wire 49, contacts 50, wire 51, contacts 52, wire 53, device 7, to ground at 54:. It will be observed that contacts 52 are closed only when the circuit of the device 6 is broken, and therefore the platform section must be ready to be retracted before its retracting motor control device 7 is actuated. The contacts 50 are opened when the platform section attains its fully retracted position, thereby breaking the circuit of device 7 and placing the apparatus in condition for the platform section to be advanced. The contacts 48 are closed only after the platform section has been partially retracted. This partial retraction is accomplished by the pressure of the side of the car against the said section as the car starts up to proceed on its trip. This allows a desirable flexibility in the operation of the system. The

contacts 25, in the circuit of the coils of relay 10, are closed only when the device 7 is out of action. Consequently the platform section mustbe in fully retracted position before the next succeeding operation of the apparatus.

It will be observed that the operation of the system is wholly automatic and not dependent upon the operation or manipulation of a manually controlled switch on the platform which would introduce a personal factor into the safety operation of the system. However, it might sometimes be desirable to manually control the system, and in that case a platform switch, indicated in dotted lines at 55 may be employed for the purpose.

An interlinkedsignaling system a portion of the circuit of which is shown at 56, may

be employed, but this forms no part of our present invention.

Having now set forth the objects and nature of our invention, and an arrangement embodying the principles thereof, what we claim as new and useful and of our own invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a safety platform mechanism, the combination of stationary and movable platform portions, and automatic devices effective only when a car is at rest opposite the platform to control the operation of the movable portions.

2. In a safety platform mechanism, the combination of stationary and movable platform portions, and automatically operated devices controlled by a predetermined position of a car or train at rest for controlling said devices.

3. In a safety platform mechanism, the combination of a platform having a movable portion and means effective only when a car is at rest opposite said movable portion to automatically advance said portion toward the car.

4. In a safety platform mechanism, a plat form having a movable section, means to control the advance of said section toward a car, and means to automatically actuate said control only when the car is at rest opposite said section. 5. In a safety platform mechanism, a platform having a movable section, an electric device to control the advance of said section toward the car, a circuit therefor, and means to complete said circuit automatically only when the car is in predetermined position with respect to said section.

6. In a safety platform mechanism, a platform having a movable section, an electric device to control the advance of said section toward a car, a circuit therefor, and means to complete said circuit only when the car is at rest in predetermined position with respect to said section.

7. In a safety platform mechanism, a platform having a movable section, an electric device to control the advance of said section toward a car, a circuit therefor, contact devices in said circuit and means effective only when the car is at rest to close said contacts.

8. In a safety platform mechanism, a platform having a movable section, an electric device to control the advance of said section toward a car, a circuit therefor, a switch in said circuit, means for controlling said switch, and devices effective only when the car is at rest in predetermined position for actuating said controlling means.

9. In a safety platform mechanism, a platform having a movable section, an electric device to control the advance of said section toward a car, a circuit therefor, means controlled by the position of the car for connecting said circuit to a supply source, and means controlled by the movement of the car to complete said circuit.

10. In a safety platform mechanism, a platform having a movable section, means to control the advance of said section toward a car, and means to render said control ineffective so long as the car is in movement.

11. In a safety platform mechanism, a platform having a movable section, means to control the advance of said section toward a car, and means carried by the car, and controlled by the car propelling motor to render said control ineffective during the operation of said motor.

12. In a safety platform mechanism, a platform having a movable section, means to control the advance of said section toward a car, and a switch device maintained in open position by the counter-electro-motive force of the car propelling motor for rendering said control ineffective.

13. In a safety platform mechanism, a platform having a movable section, an electric device to control the advance of said section toward a car, a circuit therefor, means controlled by the position of the car to connect said circuit to current supply, and means also controlled by the position of the car only when at rest for completing said circuit to ground.

14. In a safety platform mechanism, a platform having a movable section, an electric device to control the advance of said section toward a car, a circuit therefor, means controlled conjointly by the position of the car and the movement thereof before coming to rest, to connect said circuit to current supply, and means also controlled by the position of the car when at rest to complete said circuit to ground.

15. In a safety platform mechanism, a platform having a movable section, an electric device to control the advance of said section toward a car, a circuit therefor, means controlled by the position of the car to connect said circuit to current source, a switch in said circuit, and means rendered effective only when the car is at rest for controlling said switch.

16. In a safety platform mechanism, a platform having a movable section, an electric device to control the advance of said section toward a car, a circuit therefor, means controlled by the position of the car to connect said circuit to current source, a switch in said circuit, means rendered effective only when the car is at rest for closing said switch, and means-also controlled by the position of the car for completing said circuit to ground.

17. In a safety platform mechanism, a platform having a movable section, an electric device to control the advance of said section toward a car, a circuit therefor, means to connect said circuit to current source, a switch in said circuit, means to close said switch, a circuit therefor, and relay controlled by the counter-electromotive force of the car propelling motor to maintain said last mentioned circuit open as long as the propelling motor is in operation.

18. In a safety platform mechanism, a platform having a movable section, an electric device to control the advance of said section toward a car, a circuit therefor, a relay switch in said circuit, means controlled by the approach of a train to the platform for closing said switch, means controlled by the arrest of the car opposite the platform to connect said circuit to current source, and means controlled by the position of the car relative to the movable section of the platform to complete said circuit.

19. In a safety platform mechanism, a platform having a movable section, means to control the advance of said section toward a car, and means to automatically actuate said control including a movable contact, means controlled by the approach of the car to the platform to advance said contact, and means carried by the car and made operative when the car comes to rest in predetermined position with reference to said contact.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of the subscribing witnesses, on this 21st day of September A. 1)., 1914.

FRANK HEDLEY. JAMES S. DOYLE.

lVitnesses:

H. P. TITUS, IVARREN MARCUS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addre sing the Commissioner 0! Patents, Washington, D. C. 

